Ore-concentrator.



N 5 PATENTED BBQ: 3, R. OAPPS.

ORE GONGENTRATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 21, 1907.

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INVENTOR.

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JOHN RICHARD OAPPS, OF MIDDLETOWN, CALIFORNIA.

ORE-OONCENTRATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 3, 1907.

Application filed June 21. 1907. Serial ITO-{380.120.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN RICHARD CAPPs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Middletown, in the county of Lake and State of California, have invented a new and useful Ore-Concentrator, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to ore concentrators and its object is to provide a simple and compact device of this character in which the concentration of the ore is effected by precipitation within a whirling current of liquid designed to carry off the gangue or tailings while the desirable material is retained within the body of the concentrator.

Another object is to provide simple and efficient means whereby the operator can readily ascertain whether or not the separation is taking place.

A still further object is to provide a concentrator also designed to be used with mercury for the separation of gold.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings is shown the preferred form of the invention.

In said drawings: Figure 1 is a plan view of the concentrator; Fig. 2 is a section therethrough on line :tw, Fig. I and Fig. 3 is a section on line y-y, Fig. 1.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference, 1. designates a bowl constituting the body of the device and the same may or may not be provided with a cover according to the taste of the operator and the uses to which the device is put. A central opening 3 is formed in the bottom of the body and is surrounded by an upstanding frusto-conical tubular extension 4: the top of which is disposed in a plane below the top of *the bowl and is open to constitute an outlet for the tailings. Opening into the bowl adjacent the bottom thereof is a tangentially disposed feed pipe 5 inclined as shown'in Fig. 2. An over-flow pipe 6 extends from the bowl near the upper edge thereof and has a flexible hose 7 fastened thereto and is designed to extend to a point removed from the separator and preferably where the outlet end thereof can be seen by the person operating the screens designed to be used in connection with the concentrator. Another outlet opening 8 is and has a pipe 9 extending therefrom to which is connected a flexible hose 10. The upper end of this hose is normally fastened, as by means of a hook 11 so as to be supported above the bowl.

In using the concentrator herein described the material to be supplied thereto is first screened after which it is discharged, under high pressure and commingled with water, through the pipe 5 and into the bowl 1. A whirling action of the water is produced within the bowl and the free metal contained therein will be precipitated upon the bottom of the bowl while the gangue or tailings will be carried to and discharged through the central outlet formed at the upper end of the extension 4. The outer portion of the whirling water will be raised by centrifugal force so as to cover the end of the outlet pipe 6 and therefore as long as the water is whirling within the bowl and the concentration taking place a constant stream of water will be discharged through the hose 7 where it can be readily seen by the operator. Should this flow of water from the hose cease at any time the operator will know that because of some foreign substance the admission of water, etc., to the bowl has ceased. Said hose 7 therefore constitutes a gage to indicate when the concentrating action of the device is interrupted. It is of course obvious that as the end of the hose 10 is normally supported above the bowl it will be impossible for any of the contents of the bowl to escape therefrom. When it is de sired to remove the free metal which has been deposited within the bowl the hose 10 is lowered whereupon the metal can be with drawn therethrough into a suitable receptacle provided for it.

The device herein described can also be used for separating or concentrating gold by the use of mercury. In this operation mercury is placed within the bowl until it covers the lower or discharge end of the feed pipe 5. The fine gold bearing sand is then discharged through said pipe into the mercury which amalgamates with the gold.

What is claimed is:

In a concentrator of the character described the combination with a stationary bowl having a central orifice in the bottom thereof and a hollow frusto-conical extension upon the bottom of the bowl and surrounding the orifice, said extension being formed at one side of the bottom of the bowl fixed within the bowl and constituting an outlet for tailings; of a tangentially disposed pipe inclined downward toward the bottom of the bowl and opening into the bowl, said ipe being disposed to direct fluid under a iiead into the bowl to produce a whirling action, an outlet pipe extending from the bowl adjacent the top thereof, a flexible hose extending from said pipe, and discharging means connected to the bowl adjacent the 10 bottom thereof, the upper end of the frustoconical extension being located in a horizom tal plane extending below the outlet pipe.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN RICHARD CAPPS.

WVitnesses:

H. T. QUIGLEY, CHARLES A. LAWLEY, v 

